These days, retreats are a growing trend, and for good reason—they can be an amazing, healing experience for many people. Whether you're in yoga, photography, health, or any other field, as long as you have a knack for organizing and executing travel plans for a group, you can host a retreat. It can feel like herding cats sometimes, but the experience is totally worth it.
But have you ever wondered what it looks like to bring a photographer with you on a retreat? After months (and sometimes years) of planning this beautiful, one-of-a-kind experience for your participants, you want to capture the magic. So what does bringing a photographer entail, and is it worth it? Spoiler alert: Hell yes (though I might be a bit biased).
I’m going to walk you through what it looks like to bring me along, what my priorities are while I’m there, and what participants have said about their experience with having a photographer capture their journey.
When I break down what it looks like to bring a photographer along, know that I'm offering insights based on my experiences, and each photographer and retreat leader is different.
I began my journey as a retreat photographer just last year, 2023. It all started when I partnered with Kate Moon Yoga, a local yoga retreat leader here in Charleston. Kate invited me to join her group in Portugal to capture the experience. Since this was my first retreat job and Kate had never brought a photographer before, neither of us were exactly sure what this partnership would look like. Portugal was our guinea pig.
Thankfully, the retreat was spectacular. Kate is incredibly intentional and skilled at what she does, making it easy and natural to follow along on the participants' journey. It took a few days to develop a routine, but I quickly learned that I'm all in when it comes to this work. I’m essentially on call 24/7 while we’re there, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I wasn’t taking photos, I was editing and trying to deliver them to Kate and her participants as quickly as possible because everyone is always excited to see what I've captured.
I also offered mini sessions for anyone interested, for an additional fee. My time at the Portugal retreat taught me a lot, but mostly it showed me the joy I get from capturing these experiences. Each retreat since has been a learning opportunity, helping me refine my craft.
Whether domestic or international, my approach to capturing the retreat experience is pretty much the same. I usually fly in a day early or two (for international retreats, to recover from jetlag). It's important for me to arrive at the retreat center before participants so I can settle in and capture the venue before it's bustling with people. I focus on photographing the beauty of the location and getting detailed shots that set the vibe.
Most retreat leaders provide a schedule or outline of activities, which helps me plan where and when to be present. My priorities include capturing classes, workshops, adventures/excursions, candid moments, and the ambiance of the lodging, food, culture, city life, and nature. Additionally, I include a one-on-one session with the retreat leader. These aspects are my focal points throughout the retreat.
An obvious benefit of having a retreat photographer is to capture content that can help you share and grow your business. The goal is to create content that excites potential attendees for your future retreats. But there are other, perhaps less obvious, benefits as well.
When retreat leaders share the photo gallery with participants (which most do), it becomes a powerful marketing tool without any extra effort on your part. Participants often share their photos on social media while still on retreat, spreading the word about their amazing experience. This buzz can help market your retreat organically.
Participants don't need to worry about having their phones on hand to capture moments—they can trust me to document everything. This allows them to put their phones away and stay present, fully immersing themselves in the experience. Some even choose to keep their phones off for the entire retreat, knowing they’ll have beautiful photos to look back on. I've also learned to give space during workshops and intimate moments of healing that may occur. Each participant signs a waiver before the retreat, acknowledging that I'll be taking their photos. However, I always respect their space during raw moments. It's important to me that every person feels comfortable, so they can come to me at any time to request privacy when they need it.
Overall, having access to these photos gives your participants a lasting gift. They can look back on the gallery and remember the amazing time they had and the beautiful retreat you created.
The mini sessions I offer are also a fun addition. How often do people get the opportunity to have their own personal photoshoot in a beautiful destination? A lot of entrepreneurs on the retreats like to take advantage of this to get some unique branding photos.
Because these experiences are so in-depth and require a lot of my time and energy, I’ve learned that it’s essential to be particular about who I work with and which retreats I choose to attend. We all need to be a good fit for each other. Being in such close quarters and sharing energy so much means we need to ensure we’re all aligned with the same goal—creating an incredible, healing, and happy experience.
When the photographer and retreat leader are aligned, everything runs smoothly, and the images truly shine. Capturing the essence of the retreat becomes easier, and the rest naturally falls into place.
Hiring an experienced photographer to capture your retreat IS an investment. But like an investment within your brand, it is a tool to help you elevate your business. And depending on where you are in your growth, it might not seem like a top priority, but it's always worth it. There are countless benefits to having someone along to capture your retreat from every angle. Some retreat leaders I've worked with have included my fee in the price of the retreat, so it doesn't come out of their own pocket. This way, it truly is an added value for participants. Everyone appreciates the extra benefit of having a photographer to document the experience.
" Having Alexandra on retreat with us was hands down one of the greatest offerings. It allowed me to be fully present. If you have a fear she may not capture what you see, let it go! She captures all the magic & more, and so incredibly beautifully. Now I have these incredible pictures, this artwork, to forever look back on my life changing adventure. As a business owner, having Alexandra offer a mini session with her in the magic of a retreat for branding was so wonderful. I consider myself very awkward and she made me feel comfortable. The results speak for themselves and I'll be using her for alllll things branding and content!" - Caitlin Chupek
Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if bringing a photographer along for your retreat is the right move. It's a fantastic way to elevate your brand with someone experienced who’ll blend into the background of your retreat journey. Do I think it’s worth it? Absolutely. Is it for everyone? Maybe not. This has been my experience so far, and I’m excited to learn even more as I continue. Each retreat has been a gift, bringing together amazing people who share a common intention for adventure and healing. 🌟📸
